Reclaiming Your Feed: How to Use RSS to Escape Algorithmic Control

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows users to reclaim control over their digital feeds by aggregating content from various websites into a single, chronological, and non-algorithmic interface.
• It acts as an "internet-wide follow button," enabling users to track news sites, blogs, podcasts, social media profiles, and government updates without relying on centralized platform feeds.
• The technology is platform-agnostic, meaning users can switch between different RSS readers (like Feedly, NewsBlur, or NetNewsWire) by importing and exporting subscription lists.

Getting Started with RSS

• Select a Reader: Choose from web-based services like Feedly or NewsBlur, or app-based readers like NetNewsWire.
• Add Feeds: Simply input the URL of a website into the reader; most modern readers automatically detect available RSS feeds.
• Organize: Use folders to group related content and apply filters to remove unwanted items, such as sponsored posts.

Why Use RSS for News and Social Media

• Reliability: RSS avoids the frustration of algorithmically curated feeds, ensuring you don't miss content from respected publications.
• Privacy: Consuming content within an RSS reader avoids tracking often associated with visiting publisher sites directly.
• Decentralization: Platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky support RSS, allowing users to follow specific accounts without needing to maintain personal accounts on those services.
• Information Access: RSS provides a way to bypass "walled gardens" like Facebook or Instagram, which increasingly restrict access to public information behind account login screens.

Finding Hidden Feeds

• Many platforms, including shopping sites (like Big Cartel), newsletter platforms (Substack, Ghost), and government portals, natively support RSS.
• Users can even turn Google Alerts into RSS feeds for specific tracking.
• For websites lacking native support, third-party tools such as RSSHub, RSS-Bridge, or RSS.app can generate feeds, though these may require technical setup or subscription fees.